Heater attachment for fans



Nov. 18, 1941. c. MacGREGOR 2,262,898

HEATER ATTACHMENT FOR FANS Filed May 20, 1940 6 2/05 MACGEEGOR 4 Nov. 18, 1941. c, MacGREGQR HEATER ATTACHMENT FOR FANS 2 Sheets-Sheet ,2

Filed May 20, 1940 I gwuowbov 6 4/05 MAC GR EGOR Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE I HEATER ATTACHMENT FOB, FANS Glide MacGregor, Flint, Mich.

Application May 20, 1940, Serial No. 336,240

2 Claims.

This invention relates to electric heaters and more particularly to a heater attachment for a fan.

An object of this invention is to provide in combination a heater device and a fan structure wherein the heat generated by the heater is adapted to be circulated by means of the draft created by the fan.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination of this kind in which the heater may be detachably mounted on the fan guard so that the draft of air created by the fan will be forced through the heater.

A further object of this invention is to provide as a new article of manufacture, a heater attachment which is adapted to be removably mounted on any type of fan guard, the heater having a nozzle in the center thereof through which the draft of air created by the fan is adapted to pass.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this kind including a reflecting or radiant heater which is so constructed that the heating element thereof is mounted on a combined guard and reflector, the guard providing a means whereby the draft of air created by the fan will be held out of direct contact with the heating element.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this kind which will function both as a radiant or reflecting heater and as an air nozzle for a fan so as to produce a Venturi action for the draft of air.

A further object of this invention is to provide a heater attachment for a fanwhich when in applied position is attractive in appearance and which will efliciently heat a room at small cost.

A further object of this invention is to pro vide a heater attachment for a fan which when removed from the fan may be used as a toaster or cooker.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a detail side elevation of a heating device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention mounted on a fan structure.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device partly in section.

Figure 3 is a detail front elevation of the device with the guard removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of this invention.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the character F designates generally a fan structure including a motor M provided with a shaft In on which a fan blade H is mounted. A guard structure I2 is secured to the motor housing [0 and it will be understood that the guard structure I2 is here shown as only one type of guard structure and fan with which the hereinafter described invention is adapted to be combined. In the present instance the guard structure I2 includes a series of concentric rings I3 which are connected to-spacing bars l4 so that the blade II will be properly protected.

In order to provide a means whereby the fan structure F may be used in combination with a radiant or reflecting heater structure, I have provided an electrical heating element holder in the form of a circular plate l5 which at the axial center thereof is provided with a permanently open circular air passage or opening it. The plate I5 is formed with aforwardly directed flange l1 engaging about the marginal edges of the air passage 16 and this air passage 16 is adapted to be positioned concentric to the shaft l0 and is of such a size as to permit the current of air generated by the blade H to pass therethrough. The inner portion of the plate I5 is substantially fiat and the outer portion of the body of this plate I5 is bent outwardly or forwardly on an are or curvature as at l8. The cross sectional length of the said flat inner portion is of a length materially greater than the cross sectional length of the curved outer portion of the plate IS. The outer marginal edge of the plate I5 is formed with a bead or reverted portion [9 forming an arcuate flange or socket within which the base ring 20 of an outer guard member 2| is adapted to engage.

The ring 20 is preferably a split resilient ring and a plurality of radial and longitudinally arouate bars 22 are secured at their outer ends to the split ring 20 and the inner ends of the bars 22 are secured to a central ring 23. The ring 23 is concentric to the opening or air passage I6 and to the shaft III.

In order to provide a means whereby the plate I may be detachably secured to the guard structure I2, I have provided a plurality of pivoted clips or clamping members 24 which are pivot ally carried by pivot members 25. The pivot members 25 extend through the plate I5 and engage the outer ends of the clip members 24. The clip members 24 are longitudinally bent so that they may be yieldably engaged with a ring I3 of the guard I2. The depth of the inner flange or nozzle forming member I! is substan tially less than the depth of the arcuate por-' tion I8 and the bead or arcuate flange I3, the

ward reflecting face of the plate I5 and this heating element 26 comprises an electrical resistance coil 21 which is held in spaced relation .to the forward reflecting face of theplate I5 by means of a plurality of forwardly, extending supporting members 28 which are 'secured'as by welding or other suitable fastening means to the plate I5. An insulated bushing 29 is carried by each supporting member 28 and the resistance coil 21 is adapted to extend loosely through the bushings 29. The coil or heating element 26 is formed with a pair of substantially circular coil members 30 and 3I, the coil 30 extending adjacent the outer portion of the plate I5 and the coil 3I being smaller in diameter and disposed closely adjacent the flange II.

The two coil members 30 and 3| are connected together as at 32 and the heating element 26 is connected to a pair of terminals 33 and 34 which are fixed to the outer portion of the plate I5. A pair of plugs 35 and 36 are connected to and form a part of the terminals 33 and 34, respectively, so that a connector plug or socket member may be connectedto the plugs 35 and 36 for connection to a source of electric current supply. Preferably the split ring 20 has the free ends thereof spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of the terminals 33 and 34. A cover or terminal protector member 31 is disposed about the terminals 33 and 34 and in practice the free ends ofthe guard-ring 2IJ- abut against the adjacent sides of the cover 31. It will be understood that the terminals 33 and 34 and the plugs or terminal posts 35 and 36 are suitably insulated from the plate I5. In Figures 5 and 6 there is disclosed aslightly modifled form of this invention wherein the plate member I5" is formed with a returned flange or arcuate'guard holding member I9 at its outer marginal edge and a plurality of lugs 38 are formed with the flange I!) and are adapted to bev bent inwardly about the, ring 20 so as to securely hold the guard structure 2I on the plate I5. In other respects the structure shown in Figures 5 and 6 is the same as that shown in Figures 1 to-4.

" In the use and operation of this attachment, the heater structure is adapted to be mounted on the guard I2 of the fan structure by swinging the attaching clips 24 inwardly over the guard ring I3. In this manner the plate I5 is held concentric to the fan II and the shaft I0. When the fan F is operated and the heating element; 26 is connected to a source of electric current supply, the heating element 26 will turn red and the reflecting forward face of the plate I5 will radiantly direct the heat forwardly. With the fan blade II rotating, a draft of air wi1l pass through the opening I5 and the inner flange I1 is of such a depth that the stream of air passing through the flange II will not be permitted to strike the heating element 26. It will also be understood that a portionof the draft of air created by the fan II will pass about the outer rear portion of the plate I5 and this outer portion of the plate I5 is curved forwardly so as to facilitate the flow of the air forwardly and about the outer edges of the plate. The draft of air flowing through the flange I! will cause a suction to be created about the outer marginal edges of the plate I5 and thus draw this air from about the marginal edges of the plate I5 through the radiantly heated stream of air on the forward side of the plate I5.

In. this manner the forwardly moving airon I I .the forward side of the plate I5 will be heated from the heating element 26 and this forward moving air which is caused by the rotation of the blade I I will not strike the heating element 26. By forming the heater structurewith the plate I5 between the fan blade II and the heating. element 26, the reflector plate I5 will serve as a guard which will prevent the heating element 26 from being cooled by the air stream caused by rotation of. the blade I I. The protection of the heatingelement 26 by the radiant member I5 will prevent'oxidation of the heating element 26 and at the same time the heating element 26 will at all times be properly heated and will have a red glow.

The inner flange I! will function as a Venturi 'tube as the stream of air caused by rotation of the fan blade II will be constricted by the flange I1 and this stream of air after passing through the flange I! will expand in a radial,

direction but this expansion will occur forwardly of the heating element 26 and will mix the air flowing through the passage I 6 with the air which is drawn inwardly from the outer marginal edges 'of the plate I5 and which passes through the heated rays on the forward side of the plate I5.

The heater structure hereinbefore described may be used as an attachment for any conventional fan structure embodying the use of a conventional fan blade guard and if desired the heater structure hereinbefore described may be used as a toaster by removing the guard 2I and setting the plate I5 in a horizontal position. In

this horizontal position the attaching clips 24 may be turned inwardly and will act as feet or supports for the plate I5. The heating element 26 may then be connected to a source of current supply and bread placed in a. position to receive the heat from the heating element 26. If desired the guard 2| may be left on and the bread placed directly on the guard 2|. In addition the heater structurehereinbefore described may be used as a cooker by placing the plate I5 in a horizontal position and removing the guard 2I. A pan or other cooking dish may then be placed in contact with the coil supporting members 28. The reflecting surface of the plate I5 will assist in directing the heat rays against the bottom of the cooking dish so that the heating element will quickly heat the material in the cooking dish.

Where the device is used as a cooker or toaster, the clips or attaching members 24 will space the rear side of the plate I5 a sufficient distance from a table or other plane surface so that supporting surface for the heater will not be damaged by heat from the heating element 26. The air in the space between the rear or bottom side of the plate l will act as an insulating means to prevent burning or scorching of the supporting surface. It will be understood that the fan F may be either a fan of the stationary type or may be of the oscillating type. By attaching the heater to the fan structure, a room may be quickly heated due to the circulation caused by operation of the fan in conjunction with the heating element attached to the front side of the fan. While it is well known that electric heating elements have been mounted in a position forwardly of a fan structure, such heating elements have been exposed to the air stream caused by the fan blades and this air stream has the effect of quickly cooling the heating element and preventing the heating element from being maintained in a proper heating condition. This heating condition is a red condition of the heating element and where the heating element or coil comes into direct contact with the air stream of the fan, the heating element cannot be maintained at the proper heating condition.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical heater for positioning against the front of and for connection to the guard for an electrically driven fan, said heater including a supporting plate having a flat inner portion and an outer portion bent outwardly and forwardly upon an arc, said inner portion being formed with a permanently opened axial opening constituting an air passage and a forwardly directed annular flange bordering the edge of said opening and having its forward edge spaced rearwardly of the outer edge of said outer portion, an electrical heating element surrounding. said flange, spaced from and opposing the forward face of said inner portion and being formed with a pair of terminals for connection to an electric source, forwardly extending spaced apertured insulating members on the forward face of said inner portion for supporting said element, and shiftable means attached to the rear face of said inner portion for attaching said plate to the guard for the fan.

An electrical heater for positioning against the front of and for connection to the guard for an electrically driven fan, said heater including a supporting plate having a flat inner portion and an outer portion bent outwardly and forwardly upon an arc, said inner portion being formed with a permanently opened axial opening constituting an air passage and a forwardly directed annular flange bordering the edge of said opening and having its forward edge spaced rearwardly of the outer edge of said outer portion, an electrical heating element surrounding said flange, spaced from and opposing the forward face of said inner portion and being formed with a pair of terminals for connection to an electric source, forwardly extending spaced apertured insulating members on the forward face of said inner portion for supporting said element, shiftable means attached to the rear face of said inner portion for attaching said plate to the guard for the fan, said outer portion having its outer terminal part formed with an internal socket, and a forwardly directed skeleton guard including a resilient split annular member at its inner end mounted in said socket whereby said guard is connected to said plate.

GLIDE MACGREGOR. 

